Ohio State opens 2015 as the favorite to repeat as college football’s national champion. Winning back-to-back titles is no easy assignment, but coach Urban Meyer’s team is loaded with proven talent. Running back Ezekiel Elliott is a Heisman contender, and there’s no shortage of options at quarterback. The defense is also one of the best in ... READ MORE

Alabama is loaded for another run at college football’s national championship. Sure, the Crimson Tide has a few holes to address on both sides of the ball, but coach Nick Saban’s roster is loaded with talent, and the defense should be among the best in the nation if the secondary is solidified. Finding a replacement for receiver Amari Cooper and ... READ MORE

Art Briles has transformed Baylor into an annual Big 12 title contender, and the Bears are Athlon Sports’ pick to win the conference title and play in college football’s four-team playoff. Seth Russell is the next in line at quarterback in Waco, and the supporting cast is among the best in the nation with a deep receiving corps and solid offensiv... READ MORE

A year after winning the SEC Championship and falling short against Florida State in the national title, Auburn regressed to an 8-5 record in coach Gus Malzahn’s second year. But the Tigers are poised for a rebound in 2015, as Malzahn’s offense will be one of the nation’s best, and the defense should show marked improvement under new coordi... READ MORE

TCU just missed out on the college football playoff last season, and the Horned Frogs are poised for another run at the national championship in 2015. Quarterback Trevone Boykin was one of the nation’s most improved players in the nation last year, and there’s no shortage of skill talent in Fort Worth. Defense is coach Gary Patterson’s stro... READ MORE

High expectations are back at USC, as the Trojans return 14 starters from last year’s 9-4 team. Quarterback Cody Kessler headlines an offense that averaged 35.8 points per game in 2014. Kessler is surrounded by one of the Pac-12’s top offensive lines and receiving corps. Scoring points won’t be an issue for second-year coach Steve Sarkisian... READ MORE

Mark Dantonio has transformed Michigan State into one of the nation’s top programs in recent years. The Spartans have claimed at least 11 wins in four out of the last five years and finished No. 3 nationally in 2013. Dantonio’s team is poised for another run at the Big Ten title, especially with senior quarterback Connor Cook back under center. B... READ MORE

Oregon coach Mark Helfrich has guided the Ducks to 24 wins over the last two seasons and a No. 2 finish after last year’s defeat to Ohio State in the national championship game. Helfrich has Oregon poised to win the Pac-12 North once again, but it won’t be easy replacing standout quarterback Marcus Mariota. Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adam... READ MORE

Florida State has a few holes to fill in 2015, but the Seminoles are loaded for another run at the ACC title. Replacing quarterback Jameis Winston is coach Jimbo Fisher’s biggest task, while the defense has to improve after giving up 5.5 yards per play in 2014. Running back Dalvin Cook headlines a deep group of young talent that’s ready to keep F... READ MORE

Georgia opens 2015 as the favorite to win the SEC East title. The Bulldogs finished spring without an answer under center, but the offense will revolve around a heavy dose of talented sophomore running back Nick Chubb. And until the passing game is sorted out, Georgia should be able to lean on Chubb and one of the SEC’s top defenses. With games against... READ MORE

Ole Miss has increased its win total in each of coach Hugh Freeze’s three years in Oxford, and the 2015 edition of the Rebels could be even better than the 9-4 squad from last season. The quarterback position has uncertainty, but the receiving corps is among the nation’s best, and the offensive line is improving. Leading the way for Ole Miss shou... READ MORE

Notre Dame has won at least eight games in each of Brian Kelly’s five seasons, but the Fighting Irish are looking to rebound after an 8-5 campaign in 2014. After a 7-1 start, Notre Dame lost four out of its last five games. Injuries and youth hindered the Fighting Irish last season, but the experience and additional depth should pay dividends for Kelly... READ MORE

Arizona State has won 20 games over the last two seasons and has finished as a top 25 team in back-to-back years under coach Todd Graham. And even with a few losses on both sides of the ball, the Sun Devils should be in contention for the Pac-12 South title once again in 2015. Quarterback Mike Bercovici should have a breakout year in his first as the starter... READ MORE

Clemson has won at least 10 games in four consecutive seasons, and even with personnel losses on both sides of the ball, the Tigers should be in contention for the ACC title in 2015. Quarterback Deshaun Watson should be at full strength from a torn ACL by the fall, and the rising star will be surrounded by a deep group of skill players. Only two starters ret... READ MORE

LSU owns one of the nation’s most talented rosters, but key question marks remain for Les Miles’ team in 2015. Will the offense take a step forward after ranking 13th in the SEC in scoring last season? Getting better play from its quarterbacks would help, but the Tigers finished spring with uncertainty under center. On defense, LSU has a new coor... READ MORE

Arkansas showed significant improvement in Bret Bielema’s second year and finished the 2014 season by winning four out of its last six games. The Razorbacks should be even better in 2015 with the return of quarterback Brandon Allen, one of the nation’s top backfields and offensive lines. The front seven on defense must be retooled, but there&rsqu... READ MORE

Oklahoma entered 2014 with high expectations and hopes of winning the Big 12 title. But the Sooners finished 8-5 and a 5-4 mark in conference play, forcing coach Bob Stoops to make a few changes to his staff. Lincoln Riley is now the play-caller on offense and plans on implementing a spread attack similar to what he coordinated at East Carolina. However, the... READ MORE

Georgia Tech suffered some key losses in the backfield and at receiver, but coach Paul Johnson’s team is positioned for another run at the Coastal Division title. The Yellow Jackets return 13 starters, with the most important being quarterback Justin Thomas. The defense ranked near the bottom of the ACC in the four main statistical categories but impro... READ MORE

Wisconsin has a new coach (Paul Chryst), but the expectations remain the same in Madison. Led by talented junior running back Corey Clement and a solid defense, the Badgers are Athlon’s pick to win the Big Ten’s West Division. Question marks remain about this team, especially at quarterback and receiver. However, with Nebraska and Minnesota each ... READ MORE

It was a busy offseason in College Station, as Texas A&M and coach Kevin Sumlin made the defense a top priority after this unit has struggled mightily through three years in the SEC. John Chavis was hired away from LSU, and the veteran coordinator is tasked with fixing a defense that allowed 36.6 points per game in SEC contests last season. Scoring point... READ MORE

Mississippi State is coming off one of the best seasons in school history. But with only seven returning starters, can the Bulldogs contend for 10 wins and the SEC West title once again? Don’t count out coach Dan Mullen’s team in 2015, especially with a Heisman contender in quarterback Dak Prescott.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSports&n... READ MORE

Tennessee is a program on the rise entering its third year under coach Butch Jones. The Volunteers improved from 5-7 in 2013 to 7-6 in 2014 and finished last season with a dominant win over Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl. With 17 returning starters, Tennessee is poised for another jump in its win total and final ranking in 2015.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @... READ MORE

UCLA enters its fourth season under Jim Mora with a roster that’s capable of winning the Pac-12 title. However, there’s a glaring question mark at quarterback, and true freshman Josh Rosen is expected to emerge as the team’s starter. The Bruins are in good shape on defense, and new coordinator Tom Bradley should help this unit take a step f... READ MORE

For the first time under coach David Shaw, Stanford completed a season with fewer than 11 victories. The Cardinal finished 8-5 and second in the Pac-12 North but lost three games by three points. While the defense must be revamped, Stanford appears to be the biggest challenger to Oregon in the North. And the Cardinal could push for double-digit victories onc... READ MORE

Boise State’s first season under coach Bryan Harsin was a success. The Broncos won 12 games, including a 38-30 victory over Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. Boise State is back among the nation’s top 25 teams in 2015 with 17 returning starters. Replacements must be found for quarterback Grant Hedrick and running back Jay Ajayi, but the Broncos are loa... READ MORE

If there’s a formula to hiring the perfect Florida football coach, athletic director Jeremy Foley hopes he’s found it. The Gators have fired their second defensive-minded, first-time head coach with Will Muschamp joining Ron Zook in the former Gator coach club. Replacing Muschamp is a Mountain West coach with an offensive background. The strategy... READ MORE

Doubt Missouri at your own peril. The Tigers weren’t thought to be any kind of prize for the SEC during conference realignment three seasons ago. After two trips to the SEC title game, Missouri has been one of the biggest success stories of conference-to-conference shuffling. A key to that success has been a pass rush that has produced two SEC Defensiv... READ MORE

Oklahoma State stumbled through its worst season since 2007, finishing 7-6 for the first season with fewer than eight wins since Mike Gundy’s second season. The Cowboys entered the season knowing they were in store for a rebuilding season. The Cowboys enter this season hoping that rebuilding is well on its way to being complete. At least at quarterback... READ MORE

Nebraska football needed a culture change heading into 2015, and in new coach Mike Riley, the Cornhuskers have that. Nebraska traded the abrasive, tightly wound Bo Pelini for the former Oregon State coach who is known for being one of the most relaxed coaches in a profession marked by Type A personalities. Whether Riley can deliver different results from his... READ MORE

Arizona fans undoubtedly felt a sense of optimism with the arrival of Rich Rodriguez to Tucson. The Wildcats hoped Rodriguez could do for them what he did for West Virginia in turning a program with pockets of success into one with staying power. Even 2014, though, had to come as a bit of surprise. In only his third season at Arizona, Rodriguez led the Wildc... READ MORE

Utah should be feeling pretty good for 2015. The Utes are coming off their best season as Pac-12 member, winning nine games for the first time since 2010 and finishing with a winning conference record for the first time since moving over from the Mountain West. Yet Utah has reason for concern as defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake and offensive coordinator D... READ MORE

If not for an NCAA decision midway through 2014, the highlight of last season may have been a win over UCF on Aug. 30 across the Atlantic Ocean. The Nittany Lions started 4-0 but struggled through most of the season thanks largely to a thin offensive line. They did, however, get to six wins, key since the NCAA lifted their bowl ban. Penn State took advantage... READ MORE

The first year of Charlie Strong’s tenure ended in essence where it started. In the second game of the season, Texas lost 41-7 to BYU. The Longhorns finished with an offensively inept 31-7 loss to Arkansas in a bowl game. That, of course, is not even close to good enough for Texas. Yet despite these low points, Texas managed to win three of its last fo... READ MORE

Michigan got its man. Now the hard part begins. After stumbling through the Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke eras, the Wolverines have made the home run hire they needed by bringing Jim Harbaugh back to Ann Arbor. Optimism is high, but the short-term prognosis is questionable. Michigan needs to find a quarterback and solidify the play of the offensive line to c... READ MORE

Virginia Tech is at a crossroads of sorts. The Hokies went to the ACC championship game six times in their first eight seasons in the league. Since then, Virginia Tech is 12-12 in the league. A 6-6 season saved the Hokies from missing the postseason for the first time since 1992. A bowl win preserved a streak of 22 consecutive winning seasons. The streaks lo... READ MORE

West Virginia will have a new starting quarterback, an unproven offensive line and untested receiving corps in 2015. Even then, the question seems to be around the defense. Dana Holgorsen’s offense seems to be all but automatic these days, so the defense — which ranked 60th or worse in the four major categories — is the biggest X-factor in ... READ MORE

South Carolina’s season was lost in essence before the first Saturday of the season. The Gamecocks lost 52-28 at home to Texas A&M on the first Thursday night of the year, exposing Carolina’s defense and derailing the Gamecocks’ bid for the SEC East. South Carolina finished 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the SEC for its worst season since 2009.... READ MORE

Louisville has had more high-profile seasons than 2014, but the Cardinals deserve credit for a successful first season in the ACC. Louisville moved into a tougher conference and had a revolving door at quarterback, yet still found a way to win nine games, including a road trip to Notre Dame. The Cards did this with a top-10 defense and 10 NFL draft picks. Lo... READ MORE

NC State flashed its potential in a wild 56-41 loss to Florida State on Sept. 27. The Wolfpack just had to wait until November to deliver on it. NC State was one of the first teams of 2014 to give FSU a scare last season, leading the Seminoles until the final 3:24 of the third quarter. NC State struggled after that game, losing four in a row at one point. Af... READ MORE

Cincinnati enters its third season under coach Tommy Tuberville as the favorite to win the American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats return an explosive offense, headlined by quarterback Gunner Kiel and a deep receiving corps. However, question marks remain on defense.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing Cincinnati’s Offense for 20... READ MORE

Another year. Another coach for Pittsburgh football. The Panthers got three full seasons out of Paul Chryst before he returned to Wisconsin, but that’s better than a stretch in 2010-12 when Pitt hired three head coaches and employed two interims in bowl games. It’s no wonder that Pitt has gone merely 6-6 in each of the last four regular seasons. ... READ MORE

Larry Fedora enters a critical fourth season at North Carolina with lots of talent and high expectations. He's won more ACC games than he's lost (13-11) but hasn't been able to get the Tar Heels over the hump and compete for a division crown. In fact, Fedora's win total has dropped year over year in each of his three seasons at the ... READ MORE

Al Golden has been at Miami four seasons and has yet to elevate the Hurricanes back to the ACC's elite. He has loads of talent — the Canes had seven players drafted in April — but hasn't been able to win a division crown. The offense has been solid every year Golden has been in Coral Gables. However, his defenses have ... READ MORE

As long as Bill Snyder is the head coach in Manhattan, Kansas State will always be a contender in the Big 12. After another nine-win season last year — Snyder's 13th with the Wildcats — KSU enters the '15 season with some big holes to plug. Kansas State needs to find a leader at quarterback, replace stars at wide receiver a... READ MORE

Few coaches get more out of their team than Jerry Kill at Minnesota. It's easy to forget that the Golden Gophers were one half away from winning the Big Ten West Division last fall. With just four starters back on offense, Kill knows his offense has some work to do this summer. Luckily, the defense brings back seven starters, so expect Minnesota to ... READ MORE

Chris Petersen’s first order of business in the Pac-12 was to change the culture at Washington. Reworking a locker room’s mentality doesn’t happen over night and that led to six losses despite a glut of top flight NFL Draft picks a year ago. Petersen still has to answer questions under center and in his front seven, but his plan has worked ... READ MORE

The Golden Bears were just a handful of plays away from getting to a bowl game last fall. This team has shown marked improvement under Sonny Dykes, and with star quarterback Jared Goff poised for a breakout season, reaching the postseason in 2015 should be an extremely reasonable expectation in Berkeley. The Pac-12 has been warned.Follow Athlon Sports o... READ MORE

Kliff Kingsbury has had an interesting two-year start to his head-coaching career at Texas Tech. Year One featured big offensive numbers and an impressive postseason victory over Arizona State. Year Two featured another undisciplined team, seven Big 12 losses and no postseason. Kingsbury has plenty of talent, both as a coach and on his depth chart, but has t... READ MORE

Bronco Mendenhall enters his 11th season in Provo with some renewed excitement. That’s because BYU welcomes back Heisman candidate and superstar athlete Taysom Hill. The Cougars' schedule is much more difficult this fall as compared to last season, but getting Hill back could more than compensate for the increased difficulty.Follow Athlon Sports on... READ MORE

Tom Herman enters his first season as a head coach accustomed to expectations. After winning a national championship as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, he now enters the American Athletic Conference as one of the league’s contenders with Houston. The Cougars has one of the most talented rosters in the league and could be considered the f... READ MORE

Matt Wells has done a terrific job following Gary Andersen at Utah State. He’s won 19 games in two years and gave Aggies fans their third consecutive bowl victory by beating UTEP last December. The Mountain West contender sustained multitudes of injuries last season and should be healthier this fall. If Wells can break in new coordinators this offseaso... READ MORE

Duke and David Cutcliffe have a good thing rolling in Durham and the 2015 season could prove this team is ready to reload rather than rebuild. A lucky schedule, upgraded facilities and 12 returning starters give the Blue Devils optimism entering fall camp. There are still holes to fill for this program, but Duke is now considered a threat every year in the A... READ MORE

Kirk Ferentz is entering his 17th season at the helm of the Iowa Hawkeyes football program. He’s seen amazing highs — two Orange Bowls and two Big Ten titles — and plenty of lows. For all of the heat he’s taken, Ferentz has still gotten Iowa to 12 bowls games in his last 14 seasons. That should once again be the target ... READ MORE

The Midshipmen have been to six bowls in seven years under Ken Niumatalolo. With a superstar returning under center in the form of Keenan Reynolds, a seventh bowl game is all but certain. But can Navy contend for an American Athletic Conference championship in their first season in the new league?Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSports Previewing... READ MORE

There was tangible growth for Kentucky in Mark Stoops second season in Lexington. Despite a disappointing second half that still left the Wildcats at home during bowl season, Stoops was able to build a more competitive team. The Cats won two SEC games last fall and if it can improve by just one game, a postseason berth is very possible in 2015.Follow Athlon ... READ MORE

Steve Addazio has installed a personality in two seasons at Boston College. His teams have an identity, and the program is coming off back-to-back bowl games. The rest of the ACC knows exactly what it’s getting out of the Eagles on both sides of the ball and it’s still tough to stop. However, with just nine starters back, Addazio has his wor... READ MORE

There are a lot of moving parts for Randy Edsall and the Terrapins in 2015. After a great debut season in the Big Ten that featured a bowl berth, Edsall finds himself replacing his quarterback, his defensive coordinator and 11 other starters from his starting lineup. Maryland could roll through the non-conference schedule but will face one of the Big Ten'... READ MORE

Pat Fitzgerald is the father of Northwestern football but his Wildcats have missed the postseason two seasons in a row after five straight bowl games. His roster returns a large chunk of the depth chart — try 15 starters — but he has to plug holes at key positions like quarterback. His roster is in good shape but he needs to regain some... READ MORE

Justin Fuente has quickly changed the mindset of the Memphis program. This team was competitive against big-time competition last year and claimed a share of the American Athletic Conference championship. The offense should be solid with seven starters back, but Fuente has to replace eight starters and a coordinator on the defensive side of the ball. If thin... READ MORE

There is no doubt that 2015 is a big year for Kevin Wilson at Indiana. The Hoosiers have clearly gotten better under Wilson during his time in Bloomington, but this program has fallen just short of taking the next step — aka, get to a bowl game. The Big Ten East has gotten tougher, so Indiana will have to continue to show improvement (and sta... READ MORE

Mike London enters his sixth season at Virginia squarely on the hot seat for the third consecutive season. The Cavaliers showed improvement last year, winning four of their first six games but struggled badly in ACC play over the second half of the season. In a wide-open Coastal Division, a postseason berth for Virginia and London may be ... READ MORE

Matt Rhule clearly knows what he’s doing at Temple. The Owls enter the 2015 season a contender in the American Athletic Conference East Division with 17 starters back from a team that won just as many games as it lost. If Rhule can find balance on both sides of the ball, Temple could make some serious noise in the AAC.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @... READ MORE

George O’Leary followed up his Fiesta Bowl victory with another nine wins for UCF in 2014. His Knights return just 10 starters on a team that consistently contends in the American Athletic Conference. Those thinking UCF takes a step back just because of a few key departures should be careful of O’Leary’s always tough Knights.Follow Athlon S... READ MORE

Tim Beckman’s teams have improved every year he’s been at Illinois. But an offseason fraught with negative headlines and a very difficult Big Ten schedule have raised questions about his long-term future with the Illini. A critical fourth season could go either direction for a team that has underachieved for the better part of a decade.Follow Ath... READ MORE

After Rutgers first season in the league, fans in the Big Ten still don’t know what to make of the Scarlet Knights. Kyle Flood got a lot out of his team last fall but enters his important fourth season with increased pressure and a rebuilt depth chart. In a brutal division, returning to a bowl game should be a reasonable goal.Follow Athlon Sports on Tw... READ MORE

Washington State may have been ahead of schedule when the Cougars reached a bowl game in 2013, even if they finished with a losing record after the collapse against Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl. After a 3-9 season, Washington State needs to get back on track in the fourth season under Mike Leach. The Cougars will have a new quarterback who got his f... READ MORE

Thought this may be tough to prove to an outsider, Colorado improved in 2014 despite a 2-10 record and a winless Pac-12 season. The Buffaloes were more competitive at least as far as the scoreboard was concerned in the second season under Mike MacIntyre. If the Buffs can flip the margins a little further and sweep its non-conference schedule, they will start... READ MORE

Under Brady Hoke and Rocky Long, San Diego State has become a regular winner, reaching five consecutive bowl games. The bar has been raised enough to where last season’s 7-6 season qualifies as a disappointment. The Aztecs should continue to contend in the Mountain West, but their ceiling may depend on the health of a transfer quarterback from Kentucky... READ MORE

As far as entertainment value, there was no better ticket in college football late last season than Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers defeated Marshall in overtime and then defeated Central Michigan in a bowl game. The two games totaled 230 points and each were decided by one point. With seven starters — including a quarterback and running back —... READ MORE

A year after a near-perfect season, Marshall still hopes to be in contention for a Conference USA title. The Thundering Herd lost 67-66 to WKU in overtime for their only loss of the season in 2014. Marshall has the personnel and schedule to challenge for another C-USA title — but it may again come down to a date with the Hilltoppers to end the season.R... READ MORE

Colorado State is coming off its best season since 2002, a 10-3 season that saw the Rams challenge for a Mountain West title and propel coach Jim McElwain to the Florida job. After four seasons of improving its win total, Colorado State enters uncertain territory with new coach Mike Bobo, the former offensive coordinator at Georgia.Follow Athlon Sports on Tw... READ MORE

East Carolina enters 2015 without three of the key cogs of its offense — quarterback Shane Carden, receiver Justin Hardy and coordinator Lincoln Riley. Those are major departures, but with eight bowl games in the last nine seasons, the Pirates are rarely out of the mix.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing East Carolina’s Offen... READ MORE

As far as surprising coaching moves during the 2015 offseason, Oregon State was the epicenter. On one end, longtime overachiever Mike Riley left for Nebraska after 12 seasons in his second stint with the Beavers. On the other, Oregon State pulled Gary Andersen from Wisconsin. Andersen is a proven coach, but he walks into an uncertain situation with only two ... READ MORE

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads has cultivated a reputation of being able to do more with less. After a 5-19 record the last two seasons, Rhoads and his reputation are being put to the test. The Cyclones went winless in the Big 12 last season — which, of course, means they lost to Kansas — and rebounding by a significant margin would seem to be a ta... READ MORE

As consistent as Toledo has been as a program — five consecutive winning seasons — the Rockets are more than 10 years removed from their last MAC championship and last division title. After winning nine games and finishing 7-1 in the league, Toledo has the goods to contend again, provided the Rockets can find an answer on a completely rebuilt off... READ MORE

Blake Anderson maintained Arkansas State's streak of winning seasons and bowl berths in his first year at the helm. The Red Wolves went 7-6 under their rookie head coach, stretching both their string of winning seasons and bowl appearances (all of them to the GoDaddy Bowl) to four. Anderson has his sights set even higher in 2015, as Arkansas State enters... READ MORE

Georgia Southern made the transition to the FCS level with ease, winning nine games and claiming the Sun Belt title with a 8-0 record. The Eagles were ineligible for the postseason last season, but that's not the case for Willie Fritz' team in 2015. The Sun Belt's top scoring offense and defense returns 10 starters, as Georgia Southern's... READ MORE

Dino Babers won eight games in his first season at Bowling Green, led the Falcons to their second straight MAC East title and first bowl victory in a decade, but his team enters 2015 with even loftier goals in mind. An experienced offense welcomes back just about every key contributor, while five starters return on a defense that finished near the bottom in ... READ MORE

Derek Mason's tenure at Vanderbilt got off to a rough start, as the Commodores won just three games overall and went 0-8 in the SEC last season. With a year under his belt and some coaching staff changes, Mason is hoping for more success in Year 2, but the life in the SEC is never easy, especially for an offense that was among the worst in the nation in ... READ MORE

Northern Illinois reigned supreme in the MAC in 2014, although a blowout loss to Marshall in the Boca Raton Bowl ended last season on a disappointing note. The path to the MAC West division crown figures to go through the Huskies once again this fall, as Rod Carey's team returns 14 starters from a team that is used to winning. Northern Illinois is in sea... READ MORE

P.J. Fleck orchestrated quite the turnaround at Western Michigan last season. The Broncos won eight games in 2014, after picking up just one victory in Fleck's 2013 rookie campaign. Now the next step for this Broncos program is to maintain that success and emerge as a legitimate contender in the MAC West. Fleck appears to have the horses to possibly do t... READ MORE

Not surprisingly, Dave Clawson's first season at Wake Forest experienced more downs than ups. The good news is that 13 starters return from last season's 3-9 team. The bad news is that the Demon Deacons will once again be one of the youngest teams in FBS and this offense was not just the worst in the ACC, it ranked near the bottom of all of FBS in&nb... READ MORE

Air Force soared to a somewhat surprising 10 wins last season, including a victory over Western Michigan in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Winning is nothing new for the Falcons under Troy Calhoun, and the offense should once again be productive thanks to one of the nation's top rushing attacks. The key to this season, however, is the other side of the... READ MORE

Purdue showed improvement in its second season under Darrell Hazell. Unfortunately, the end result is still just four victories overall and none at home in Big Ten play in Hazell's two seasons leading the Boilermakers. Sixteen starters return, giving Hazell plenty of experience to work with, but it's probably too much to expect this Purdue team to cl... READ MORE

Syracuse took a couple of steps backwards in Scott Shafer's second season, as the Orange won just three games. If any bounce back occurs this fall it will have to happen with a new offensive coordinator in place and very little starting experience returning on either side of the ball. The Orange could have a tough time climbing out of the basement in the... READ MORE

Louisiana Tech went from 4-8 in 2014 to 9-5 and Conference USA West Division champions in Year 2 under Skip Holtz. This season, the Bulldogs are the favorites to repeat as division champions, as the offense returns most of its skill position players and one of C-USA's toughest defenses returns six starters. Another bowl berth should be expected, but can ... READ MORE

In each of Mark Hudspeth's four seasons, UL Lafayette has gone 9-4 and finished the year playing in the New Orleans Bowl. This year's Ragin' Cajuns could keep each of these streaks alive, but to do so it will need to rely on new starters at key positions, including quarterback, as well as a new defensive coaching staff.Follow Athlon Sports on Twi... READ MORE

Middle Tennessee won enough games to be bowl-eligible last season, but the Blue Raiders didn't get an invite. Rick Stockstill's team returns 13 starters, but a tough schedule including a date with Alabama makes MTSU's path back to the postseason a difficult one.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing MTSU’s Offense for... READ MORE

Rice is enjoying its most successful three-year stretch in program history, highlighted by a 2013 Conference USA championship. David Bailiff's 2015 team will be looking to replicate's last year's eight wins, but to do so the Owls will need to rely on a large batch of new starters, especially on defense.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSpor... READ MORE

Coming off of a seven-win season, Appalachian State is now finally eligible to enjoy the full benefits of being a FBS member. That could mean a bowl bid and possible Sun Belt championship for the Mountaineers, as Scott Satterfield's team returns 10 starters on each side of the ball. Plenty of experience and a favorable home schedule should produce six wi... READ MORE

Nevada returned to the postseason in Brian Polian's second season at the helm. Now the challenge for the Wolf Pack will be to maintain that same level of success with uncertainty at quarterback, along the offensive line and at wide receiver. Can the defense, which returns five starters in the front seven, carry Nevada back to a bowl game?Follow Athlon Sp... READ MORE

With just five wins in three seasons on the FBS level, could this be the year UMass takes a big step forward? The Minutemen return 18 starters, as Mark Whipple's team hopes to secure the program's first bowl appearance since 1972.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing UMass’ Offense for 2015 Before coach Mark Whipple... READ MORE

Despite picking up seven wins, Texas State did not receive a bowl invite last season. The Bobcats could be in the same position in 2015, as Dennis Franchione welcomes back 12 starters, including his key playmakers on offense. If the offense can carry the team early and the defense finds it footing, Texas State could force its way into the bowl conversation t... READ MORE

Ball State returns 17 starters from last season's team that finished strong, winning four of its final six games. The Cardinals hope to be a factor in the MAC West again, but will have to do so without its top playmaker from a year ago. Pete Lembo will rely on a veteran offensive line and improving defense as Ball State looks to get back to a bowl game t... READ MORE

For the first time in five seasons, a Craig Bohl-coached team did not finish with a winning record. Now with a year under his belt at Wyoming and in FBS, Bohl will try to improve upon the four wins the Cowboys picked up in 2014. Familiarity with the coaching staff and playbook should help, but Wyoming returns just nine starters and is probably at least ... READ MORE

A favorable schedule could help New Mexico get to six wins and a possible bowl invite. The key for the Lobos is whether the offense can continue to pile up the rushing yards and if the defense can get a little stinger when it comes to points allowed. If everything comes together, Bob Davie's team could go bowling for the first time since 2007.Follow Athl... READ MORE

After consecutive 5-7 showings, Akron needs to show signs of improvement in Terry Bowden's fourth season at the school. With an experienced quarterback leading the way on offense and several key transfers getting on the field, the Zips could be in position to make some noise in the MAC East this season.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPrevie... READ MORE

Ohio won six games last season, but the Bobcats weren't always competitive in 2014. This season should be different, however as Frank Solich welcomes back starters from last year's team that experienced its share of growing pains. Bowl eligibility should be one of the goals for 2015, as Ohio is poised to be a factor in the MAC East race once aga... READ MORE

South Florida has yet to enjoy much success in the American Athletic Conference under Willie Taggart. The third-year coach will try and snap the Bulls' postseason drought in 2015, but only has eight returning starters to help him to accomplish this. South Florida also will have new coordinators in place on both sides of the ball in what could be a m... READ MORE

UTEP got to a bowl game in Sean Kugler's second season at his alma mater, finishing the campaign with seven wins. With Kugler's imprint fully established on the program, the Miners loo to replicate last season's success behind one of Conference USA's most productive running games and an opportunistic defense.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @... READ MORE

The post-Derek Carr era did not get off to a good start for Fresno State last season. The Bulldogs went 6-8 in 2014, as Tim DeRuyter's team struggled to both score points and keep the opposition out of the end zone. Fresno State is still unsettled at quarterback, but a relatively weak Mountain West West Division should help the Bulldogs' chances of g... READ MORE

Chad Morris was one of the offseason’s top hires, but the first-year coach has plenty of work ahead in 2015. SMU returns only 11 starters and will be implementing new schemes on both sides of the ball after a 1-11 finish in 2014. The Mustangs will be better, and the future looks bright with Morris at the helm.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSpo... READ MORE

David Beaty was hired at Kansas because the Jayhawks know they need to recruit better. From the look of the worst roster in the Big 12, Beaty has a lot of work ahead of him. And with just five starters back, his only victories this fall may come on the recruiting trail.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing Kansas’ Offense in 201... READ MORE

Tulane heads into Curtis Johnson’s fourth year looking to rebound after a 3-9 record in 2014. The Green Wave has 13 returning starters and a promising core of talent to build around, but the offense is looking for a spark after struggling last season.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing Tulane’s Offense for 2015Strong-armed so... READ MORE

Lance Leipold joins the top rank of college football after winning at an elite level at Wisconsin-Water in Division III. He has some nice pieces at Buffalo to compete in the MAC, but he needs to prove his winning system can succeed at the FBS level.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing Buffalo’s Offense for 2015 Firs... READ MORE

Philip Montgomery helped Art Briles engineer one of the nation’s top offenses at Baylor, and the veteran assistant finally gets his chance to run a program, replacing Bill Blankenship after a 2-10 record in 2014. The Golden Hurricane should have an explosive offense, but the defense gave up 39.3 points per game last year.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter... READ MORE

There are some things to get excited about at FAU for second-year coach Charlie Partridge. His offense has an identity and it should give them a chance to compete in most games in Conference USA. Quarterback Jaquez Johnson also returns for his senior campaign. But the Owls will have to overcome significant losses on defense if FAU wants to reach a ... READ MORE

Joey Jones has done excellent work at South Alabama. The transition to the highest level of college football has been pretty smooth, considering the Jaguars have already reached a bowl game. However, a bizarre injection of game-ready players from defunct UAB could make summer camp interesting in Mobile.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing... READ MORE

Bob Diaco enters his second season at UConn looking for answers after a 2-10 record in 2014. The Huskies need to find a spark on offense after averaging just 15.5 points per game last year. The strength of the team will be a defense with seven returning starters, featuring one of the top linebacking corps in the American Athletic Conference.Follow Athlon Spo... READ MORE

The Spartans are looking to take a big step forward in Ron Caragher's third season. He has a lot of young talent to build upon but it may take time for this roster to come into its own. San Jose State has a tough schedule in the Mountain West and big holes to plug on defense and under center.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing San Jo... READ MORE

John Bonamego steps onto Central Michigan's campus with a clean slate to work with after Dan Enos' departure. This team won seven games last year but only returns 10 starters and faces a much improved MAC schedule. Reaching a bowl game will be a tall ask.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsPreviewing Central Michigan’s Offen... READ MORE

The Panthers only won four times last year, and Ron Turner's squad is picked fifth in the East Division of Conference USA. But FIU has a young quarterback and 14 starters back for a team that was better in the final few weeks of the season. Can Turner continue the improvement and get FIU to a bowl game?Follow Athlon Sports on Twi... READ MORE

Bobby Wilder proved in short order that Old Dominion can compete in the FBS ranks after a six-win 2014 campaign. Replacing a superstar like Taylor Heinicke will be nearly impossible but seven other offensive starters are back. In C-USA's tougher division (East), the Monarchs were nice story a year ago, and Wilder has some equity built up heading int... READ MORE

Norm Chow has seemingly been on the hot seat since arriving at Hawaii. However, this appears to be his most talented team in his four-year stint with the Warriors. With a challenging non-conference schedule and a crossover game in league play against Boise State, Chow will have to prove his 12 returning starters will be enough for him to keep his job on the ... READ MORE

Todd Berry and the Warhawks have eight starters back on a veteran defense and five starters back on a questionable offense. The team should be more balanced in 2015 and with 13 games (including Hawaii), ULM could find itself in the postseason. Contending for a Sun Belt title, however, may be a much taller order.Follow Athlon Sports on Twitter: @AthlonSportsP... READ MORE

Todd Monken saw improvement at Southern Miss in his second season. However, the talent level for the Eagles simply wasn't good enough for Monken to compete in Conference USA. However, seven starters are back on offense and he is slowly beginning to restock the roster with depth. But is it enough for Southern Miss to reach a bowl game or compete in t... READ MORE

Dan McCarney has a bit of a roller coaster ride at North Texas, posting nine wins two years ago but just four last fall. He's got a new coordinator and will increase the tempo on offense in an effort to rebuild his squad in the C-USA West Division. With only nine starters back, McCarney has his work is cut out for him in 2015.Follow Athlon Spor... READ MORE

For the first time since 1990, someone other than Larry Blakeney will coach Troy. Blakeney’s tenure, which coincided with the Trojans’ move to major college football, included five Sun Belt titles and five bowl games. He’ll be tough to replace, but Troy turns to a familiar face to replace Blakeney and — the Trojans hope — revita... READ MORE

Kent State’s 11-3 season and MAC East title in 2012 is a distant memory. The Golden Flashes are 6-17 in two seasons under Paul Haynes and regressed from three MAC wins in 2013 to one in 2014 (over Akron by a field goal in the last game of the season). Improvement will be expected for the Flashes in the third season under Haynes, but they will need the ... READ MORE

Army is going for a new look and more formal name in 2015, updating its logos and preferring to spell out its name as “Army West Point.” Renewed results, though, remain in question. The Black Knights have reached one bowl game since 1996, and with six starters returning, a postseason seems a reach once again for the Cadets.Follow Athlon Sports on... READ MORE

Progress has been slow for Miami (Ohio), but Chuck Martin hopes to see more of it in his second season. The RedHawks lost 10 games last season, but lost five games by one possession (Eastern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Central Michigan and Ohio). The offense must be rebuilt with three starters, but eight returning starters on defense at least gives ... READ MORE

UNLV made arguably one of the biggest coaching gambles of the offseason when it hired the wildly successful Tony Sanchez from Bishop Gorman. The high school ranks have been a good place to grab assistants (Chad Morris, Gus Malzahn, Hugh Freeze) but not necessarily head coaches (Todd Dodge). Former coach Bobby Hauck brought one bowl season and four 10-loss se... READ MORE

UTSA was a pleasant surprise last season — for about two weeks. The Roadrunners upset Houston and came close to doing the same to Arizona in the first two games of the season. Larry Coker’s veteran team couldn’t keep it up and finished 4-8. Now, all those veterans are gone — no, really. UTSA returns three starters, all on defense.Foll... READ MORE

Optimism is not usually plentiful for New Mexico State, but that may be the case for the Aggies this season. New Mexico State improved on offense late last year, scoring 35 points in the finale at Arkansas State. If the defense with 10 returning starters can keep up, the Aggies might — might — be able to double last season’s win total (two)... READ MORE

Idaho finished 2014 with its third consecutive one-win season, but, believe it or not, the Vandals made progress. Idaho was outscored by only 135 points in 2014. That sounds bad, but consider that the Vandals were outscored by 343 points in 2013 and 319 in 2011. For a team that’s lost 42 games in four seasons, any sign of real progress is notable.Follo... READ MORE

Patience will need to be in ample supply for Georgia State. The Panthers have gone 2-33 during the last three seasons as the startup program has moved into the FBS ranks. Trent Miles rebuilt Indiana State but his lone win in two seasons at Georgia State is by one point over Abilene Christian to start last season. With 16 returning starters, including 10 on o... READ MORE

If history is any indication, Year Two is a good time for a Chris Creighton team. His team at Wabash improved from 8-2 to 12-1, and his team at Drake improved from 6-5 to 8-3. Eastern Michigan, though, is one of college football’s worst programs. Reaching four wins — and thus doubling the win total — would mark an achievement EMU has r... READ MORE

Charlotte is the newest member of the FBS ranks, and the 49ers join Conference USA after winning 10 games over the last two seasons under coach Brad Lambert. Charlotte has a ways to go before competing for a bowl game or a conference title, but the 49ers should score plenty of points in 2015 behind running back Kalif Phillips and receiver Austin Duke.Follow ... READ MORE